Bradford school bans sausage rolls in packed lunches

Some parents are outraged as sausage rolls and biscuits are among foods to be taken off children to try and promote healthier products.

Shirley Manor Primary Academy, in Wyke, near Bradford, brought in a 'Whole School Food and Drink Policy' when students returned at the start of the new school year and some of the parents are fighting a ban on certain foods, including sausage rolls, being in children's lunch boxes.

Other items on the list of foods that the school will contact parents about if brought in for lunch include pork pies and pepperoni sticks, which are high in both saturated fat and salt.

Limits on treats

The school has also brought in a limit on the amount of crisps, biscuits, cakes and deserts that children can eat; with only one of these items being allowed per day. Any additional products will be removed and returned at the end of the day.

Certain drinks are no longer permitted in the children's lunch boxes either and any bottles of fizzy drinks, flavoured water or squash (even sugar free or no added sugar versions) will be taken away till the end of the day.

The new policy has been designed using Government guidelines and says that children, particularly those in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, are encouraged to show a staff member what they have for lunch and how much they have eaten.

Parents outraged

However, some parents are not happy about the ban on certain foods.

Commenting on the ban, one parent said: "I am all for healthiness, but sometimes, they can be picky eaters. I wish it was more relaxed. It is hard for us parents who have picky children.'

Another, whose son had a sausage roll taken away, said: "It's my job as a parent to decide what my child eats, not the school's. The school won't even compromise and allow us to send sausage rolls once or twice a week. I'm furious."

The school's head teacher, Heather Lacey, said that the majority of the parents were supportive of the new policy and that more children were now bringing in healthier lunches as a result.

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